Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase: A Control Enzme in Hepatic Lipogenesis

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Abstract
Hepatocytes were isolated by perfusion of the liver with collagenase/salt solutions and incubated in culture after attachment to plastic culture dishes for periods up to 48 h. The cells, when incubated in serum-free culture medium in the presence of insulin, showed enhanced stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity which was not observed when 50 .mu.M cycloheximide was included. When insulin was omitted from the medium, the cells lost 80% of their original desaturase activity. Cells isolated from animals fed 20% (wt/wt) sucrose for 2 wk prior to sacrifice, showed high levels of fatty acid synthesis, stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity and triacylglycerol synthesis when compared with cells isolated from animals fed a corn oil supplemented diet. The influence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity on hepatic lipogenesis is discussed.